Foreign B.O., in ‘Black’ and ‘White’

Sony's 'Men' sails overseas, as 'Snow' enters waters

International auds kept their shades on over the June 1-3 weekend, as Sony’s “Men in Black 3″ maintained the highest foreign orbit, with $73.4 million. Pic retrograded just 40% in three days, lifting its overseas cume to $275.2 million.

“MIB3,” which crossed the $400 million worldwide mark June 5, managed to impede Universal’s international debut of “Snow White and the Huntsman,” though that pic bowed in a limited 45-territory spread for a weekend take of $39.3 million. “Huntsman” has yet to unspool in major markets like Australia, Russia, France and Japan; U is still waiting for the go-ahead in China.

“Black,” meanwhile, has tallied $49 million in China, thanks to a soph-sesh take of $13.5 million, down just 29%. Other top territories include Russia (a cume of $31.4 million), followed by Japan and South Korea, with $20.2 million and $18 million, respectively. The pic bowed in virtually all global territories the weekend of May 25, and managed to stay on top in most markets, including China, Germany and Japan. That worldwide staying power bodes well, considering the film carries a pricetag of $230 million. “MIB3″ will need to make another $150 million-$200 million globally to justify the production budget — a feasible benchmark — and cover Sony’s hefty marketing campaign.

“Snow White” also was pricey with a low-end budget reported at $170 million (not including P&A). U decided to stagger the film’s international release over the next three months, with Japan and Russia slated to bow mid-June.

So far, the fantasy re-telling has performed best in the U.K., with $5.6 million. U bowed the pic day-and-date in Blighty, hoping it would act as counterprogramming to this month’s Euro Cup soccer tournament. Fox did better in Blighty with Ridley Scott’s “Prometheus.” That pic, which earned $10.1 million in the U.K., scored nearly $35 million from 15 markets, bowing a week before its June 8 U.S. launch.